The Phillies' much-maligned bullpen allowed eight runs Wednesday at Marlins Park. Luis Garcia was on the mound in that frightful eighth frame, his first time pitching in two weeks. The rust showed, and he allowed four runs in the Phillies' 14-5 blowout loss.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said Reid Brignac, playing shortstop at the time, was scheduled to pitch next.

"Tough scenario," Sandberg said. "That was unfortunate."

By the time the relief staff arrived on the scene, however, Kyle Kendrick had left a game strewn with his own mistakes.

Kendrick allowed six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Kendrick also hit into two double plays on the offensive side, the second coming with one out and two runners on base. A bunt would've done the Phillies well in the situation.

What is more strange, however, is that Sandberg was looking for a sacrifice fly from Kendrick, a career .129 hitter who has one in his career. Runners were on first and third with one out, Jimmy Rollins – the team's hottest hitter – was on deck.

A visibly frustrated Kendrick said later he was just looking for contact.

"I'm not a hitter," Kendrick said. "My job is to get outs."

It spoiled what looked to be shaping up to be another top offensive night. The Phillies left 10 base runners stranded. Rollins went 2 for 4, tying Richie Ashburn for second-place in team history on its all-time hits list (2,217). He is 17 away from tying Mike Schmidt for first place.

"Well, tonight we weren't able to put up a zero after we scored some runs," Sandberg said. "We couldn't answer with zeroes and build with momentum on the offensive side."

Domonic Brown's two-run homer in the eighth, his third dinger of the year, was also rendered meaningless. Marcel Ozuna's grand slam off Jeff Manship in the seventh put the game out of reach at 10-3.

The Marlins piled four more on in the eighth off Garcia, who walked four and threw 49 pitches in the inning.

For Kendrick (0-5), it was the ninth earned run he's allowed in the first inning in his last four starts. He also continued his now 10-game losing streak.

"That needs to be fixed," Kendrick said. "I don't have a reason for why it's happened but it needs to be fixed and it needs to be fixed soon."

Kendrick is due to be a free agent at years end, with his arbitration time ending. He admitted this spring that he watched Jason Vargas (four years, $32 million) and Homer Bailey (six years, $105 million), pitchers with similar career numbers, sign big-money deals in the winter. He will be hoping for something closer to Vargas' contract.

He's not giving a great showcase. Through nine starts, Kendrick has posted a 4.53 ERA. He's given up four or more runs in three of those starts.

It is pretty terrible timing, as well, with Cliff Lee headed for at least a three-week absence, probably more. The Phillies will need consistency from their rotation, but with Kendrick there has been little of it so far in 2014.

With the loss, the Phillies (20-23) snapped a three-game winning streak. They will have a chance to win the rubber game in Miami on Thursday afternoon before heading back to Philly for an 11-game homestand.